Schedule

Mondays, October 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th
6pm - 8pm EDT (NY time)

Description

This course draws from a number of influences to establish a clear connection between the cultural writings of the 90s, advancements in music technology, and the socio-economic conditions in the United States that ushered in the age of Techno music.

We will explore these topics to cultivate an understanding of the Techno genre, its pioneers, and its evolution since its global spread, creating a "mythology" around its origins and development. The history and information disseminated in this course is not intended to be entirely chronological or linear. Like much of modern culture, Techno’s history is fragmented and draws influence from an extremely wide variety of musical styles and subgenres. Rather than presenting a canonical history, this course offers a musical mapping of the genre.

Students will engage in weekly listening, reading, and viewing assignments, which will be thoroughly discussed during class sessions. Additionally, students are expected to submit weekly audio projects that engage with the course material using a DAW of their choice. Demonstrations will be presented in Ableton Live.

In working through these projects, participants are encouraged to consider the following questions: What is Techno? How does one visualize the space in which their work will be received? Is it important or necessary to build a world around one’s work to understand the context in which it exists?

Experience in Ableton Live is recommended.

This course will take place virtually via Zoom. All sessions will be recorded and made available to participants.

Please note: ticket registration closes 30 minutes prior to event start time.
Syllabus
Week 1: Introductions and Proto-Techno
Introductions and Overview
✣ Course objectives and expectations
✣ Key themes and concepts
Proto-Techno: Foundations of the Genre
✣ In-Class Listening and Discussion: Kraftwerk, Giorgio Moroder, Suzanne Cianni, and Yellow Magic Orchestra
✣ The impact of the digital sampler in YMO’s Technodelic
✣ DAWs and MIDI

Week 2: Detroit - Birthplace of Techno
✣ Historical Context: Socio-economic conditions in Detroit that gave rise to Techno
✣ Pioneers of Detroit Techno: Jeff Mills, Robert Hood, Theo Parrish
✣ Ableton Tutorial & in-class exercise: 8-bar looping/sequencing

Week 3: Detroit Continued / London
✣ Deep focus on: Underground Resistance and solo careers in the 90s
✣ Drexciya
✣ The Three Pillars (Juan Atkins, Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson).
✣ Ableton Tutorial: Sequencing and creating dynamics using automation

Week 4: Contemporary Techno
✣ Contemporary scenes in Berlin, New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles
✣ In-Class Listening and Exercises:
✣ Temporary Autonomy: DIY labels in America and Europe.
✣ Export your files, mix, and master accordingly

Hardware & Software Requirements

• Ableton Live 11 (Standards) or 12 (Standard, Suite, or Trial)
• Computer with the latest Zoom update
• Headphones or studio monitors
• A second screen (optional but recommended)

Please email us at hi@soundial.org with any questions about the equipment list.

Instructor Bio

Cienfuegos is Alex Suárez — a Miami-born, NYC-based Cuban-American techno artist.
Cienfuegos produces hypnotizing industrialized techno — grafting together layers of noise, distorted vocals, and bass-heavy rhythms influenced by his Latin-American roots. Recordings are often lush landscapes with raw metallic reverberations & feedback, akin to the works of early SPK or Muslimgauze; at his selection this environment could be injected with a vibrant & distorted drum beat. The result is an intentionally abstract form of dance music, not designed within the common structures of dance but still it compels movement and release on the floor. He has described his music as an ode to his culture — contemplations on the tensions of the prolonged adrift state and industrial US assimilation that is a common experience of Cuban refugees. The distorting textures that weave throughout his record A Los Mártires (2015; label: Unknown Precept) are as organic-sounding as their source: phone recordings of his NYC neighborhood — factory noises, plonked and scraped metal, machines rolling & dragging across the pavement.
Suárez began as a trained jazz guitarist and salsa performer, becoming enveloped in the world of punk & noise before finding a place in underground electronic music, regularly sharing the same driving creative principles as its punk & noise peers. Cienfuegos had released work on labels at the forefront of documenting the underground music world, including L.I.E.S., BANK, Primitive Languages, and Ascetic House. Suárez can often be found playing shows in his resident New York, and has been on international techno/electronic lineups for several years.

@quepena305
Contact

hi(at)soundial.org
Website: soundial.org
Instagram: @sound.ial
Cancellation Policy

Ticket holders have the option to cancel their reservations and receive a full refund if they do so at least 48 hours before the event starts. However, please note that any cancellation requests made within 48 hours of the event start time or after the event has already begun will not be honored.

If you're unable to attend but have a friend who'd love to take your spot, you can transfer your reservation to them before the class begins.

To request a cancellation, please send an email to hi(at)soundial.org with the subject line "Cancellation Request." In the email, include the following info:

• Your full name
• Date and time of the scheduled event

For eligible cancellation requests, we will initiate a refund to the original payment method used during registration. Please allow a processing time of 5-10 days for the refund to be processed.

Soundial reserves the right to cancel or reschedule events if necessary. Despite our best efforts, unforeseen circumstances such as technical issues or unavailability of instructors may arise, requiring adjustments to the event schedule. We will make every effort to notify you promptly and provide alternative options or refunds as needed.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in these situations!